Zach Benson & What Is Pressure | Morning Cuppa Hockey

Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson joins Jonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen on Morning Cuppa Hockey following the signing of his massive seven-year, $7.5 million AAV contract extension.

Benson discusses his summer training in Vancouver, making the jump directly to the NHL as an 18-year-old, finding another level offensively and experiencing playoff hockey for the first time. He takes us inside Buffalo’s unforgettable postseason run, including the atmosphere surrounding Game 1, the passionate Sabres fan base, the Blade Gang, playing in Boston and Montreal, preparing for Game 7 and scoring the game-winning goal on his 21st birthday at the Bell Centre.

Before the interview, Jonny and Colby break down Benson’s contract, Buffalo’s collection of team-friendly deals, the possibility of Connor Hellebuyck becoming the Sabres’ missing piece and why Patrick Kane returning home to Buffalo would have been such a great story.

After the conversation with Benson, the guys discuss the Shoulder Check hockey event, its message of supporting teammates and checking in on the people around you, the responsibility star players have to influence an entire dressing room and the importance of positive self-talk. Jonny and Colby also debate the pressure NHL players face in markets such as New York and Toronto, where that pressure really comes from, the relationship between players and the media and why confrontational questions rarely produce meaningful answers.

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TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Morning Cuppa Hockey begins
0:34 Zach Benson’s seven-year contract extension
3:11 Buffalo’s team-friendly contracts and offseason outlook
4:01 Could Connor Hellebuyck be the Sabres’ missing piece?
4:35 Patrick Kane returns to Chicago instead of Buffalo
6:43 Nation Gear’s Offseason Social Club
7:46 Zach Benson joins the show
7:53 Benson’s summer training in Vancouver
9:43 Going directly from the NHL Draft to the Sabres
11:59 Adjusting to the speed and physicality of playoff hockey
12:56 Benson’s incredible first NHL goal and offensive confidence
13:25 Buffalo’s unforgettable Game 1 playoff comeback
16:02 Lindy Ruff’s leadership during Buffalo’s difficult start
17:27 When the Sabres realized they were a legitimate contender
19:41 Alex Tuch’s departure and Buffalo’s leadership void
21:02 Benson’s chemistry with Josh Doan and Josh Norris
23:28 Benson’s friendship with Tage Thompson
25:28 The biggest personalities in Buffalo’s locker room
27:15 Benson’s first major purchase after signing his contract
28:08 The Blade Gang and Buffalo’s playoff atmosphere
29:18 Playing playoff games in Boston and Montreal
30:37 Preparing for Game 7
31:38 Scoring a game-winner on his 21st birthday
32:15 Buffalo’s returning core and expectations for next season
33:23 Living alone, Uber Eats and Benson’s favourite Buffalo restaurant
34:29 Is Zach Benson actually cheap?
38:02 Jonny’s experience at the Shoulder Check hockey event
40:44 NHL stars come together at Sacred Heart
42:33 How star players influence their teammates
46:20 Positive self-talk and mental performance
47:17 Is there pressure playing NHL hockey in New York?
49:46 The internal pressure professional athletes put on themselves
52:12 Pressure as a privilege in major hockey markets
55:32 Does media coverage determine how much pressure players face?
57:36 Player interviews, difficult questions and building trust
59:01 There are no bad players in the NHL
59:57 Setting up the bet365 Bet of the Day
1:00:38 Buffalo Sabres to make the playoffs
1:01:19 Early Eastern Conference playoff predictions
1:02:08 Could the Toronto Maple Leafs miss the playoffs?
1:03:02 David Carle joins the show next week
1:03:29 Final thoughts on Zach Benson and the Sabres
1:04:43 Outro

#MorningCuppaHockey #ZachBenson #BuffaloSabres #Sabres #NHL #Hockey #NHLPlayoffs #DailyFaceoff

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